Folks Of Interest What did your father do?

Trollst, thank you.

 

My dad came to Canada as a kid back in 1912 with my grandfather and they had to pay the Chinese head tax which was $500. If you consider inflation, I have no idea how they ever came up with that kind of money. He married my mom in 1934 in China, but he was to remain one of the "bachelors" stuck in Chinatown until the government repealed the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1947 after which my folks made up for lost time and cranked out 5 of us kids. As a Chinese immigrant, he was always relegated to work in the restaurant business, never owned a car, and died much too young in 1964. Whenever I was stuck in some situation, I would wonder: Dad, what did you do at this age?

 

What did my father do?
Well, he worked hard all his life, most of it on two jobs at the same time. He instilled responsibility and the values of hard work into me. He showed me that to be a man you need to stand up for yourself and have pride but not too much. He never took shit off of anyone. He grew up during the Depression so he taught me not to needlessly throw away items that can be fixed. He taught me that if anyone else can accomplish a task then I should be able to also or at least give it my very best try and if I come up short, at least I gave it a go. He was a WWII wounded combat vet that survived Guadalcanal so he taught me to love and serve my country. He taught me how to hunt and fish and my love of firearms. But he did not teach me anything much about automobiles, I came by that love all on my own, I think as soon as I came out of the womb.

Thats what my father did.

 

A lot of what lothiandon1940 says sounds so familiar. My father was career Air Force. Joined the Army Air Corp at the on set of WWII. He was a bombardier on a B-17 that flew out of Foggia, Italy. My mother said he didn't come back the same person. War has a habit of doing that. He got out of the service at the end of the war. Was called back in during the Korean war and stayed in until he retired in the 60's. He was a construction inspector for the Air Force, protecting the military's interest on projects being built by civilian contractors. He was very artistically inclined and could draw and make things with his hands. Unfortunately because of his time overseas in WWII he drank quit a bit. He died at the fairly young age in 1973 at just 55 years old.

 

My farther was an inspector in a tube factory. He was crippled in ww2 but took care of my mum sister and me. He always wanted to bye a house but never did. We lived in a prefabricated house witch was noisy and damp. Was moved by the council to a disabled bungalow that he wasn't allowed to bye. But the best thing I remember when I got my scalxtrics about 6 years old he used to put a lp of drag racing on the radio gram. He never spoke a lot talked with his smile and eyes. The best thing the factory ever did was make him take early redundancy. Love that man miss him more than words can say.

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My dad was born in 1909 the second oldest boy of eight kids. His father died when eight years old and older brother in an industrial accident when he was barely a teenager. He became the main breadwinner doing chores for local farmers getting food for the family and very little actual pay. They didn’t have any family and were pretty much dirt poor until some of his siblings were old enough to help out working.

My dad ended up working a production job at Ford Motor for 42 years until retirement. He never complained. Always a half hour early for work, never took time off unless really sick and always believed in giving more then expected rather it was his job, family or other people. He was always generous with others probably because of his childhood and never met a stranger. He could strike up a conversation with anyone and after a few minutes you would think they were old friends.

Liked cars but only worked on them to keep then running. He liked to hunt, fish, camp and do anything outdoors. Always had a big garden and enjoyed giving food away. Mom and dad had a few good years in retirement until she passed away way to young. He was a fixture at our house always bringIng food and doing things maintenance, mowing lawn because he knew I was working way to many hours. He made it to 83 before passing not many day go by without missing him.

As I get older I have thought about this a lot and wrote these words down for our kids.

When you are young your dad is your hero and you want to be just like him when you grow up.

As you get older you wonder why your dad isn’t smarter and why he is so old fashion because you know everything.

As you get even a little bit older you realize dad is pretty smart after all, and some of the things he does and his habits aren’t quite so weird as you once thought.

When you get married and start having your own family you realize all the things, sacrifices your father and mother made to make life easier and better for you.

And if you are really lucky when you get even a bit older then that, you end up being just like your dad.

My wife and I have been married over fifty years and she has been around my dad since we were both teenagers. Every now and then I will be doing something or say something and she will say “OK Ned” the name my mother always called my dad. I see it as a compliment as to how much I have turned out like him.

 

My Dad worked for Chrysler Export-Import in Detroit for 37 years. He ended up being an executive and traveled here and there wherever Chrysler cars and trucks were sent. He purchased a 1931 Dodge Brothers business coupe in 1959 when I was 6 years old. He took it apart to restore it and there it sat until I started showing an interest in it at the age of 13. He used to take my brother and me to the Greenfield Village Old Car Festival every October since I was 9 years old and that is when my interest in antique cars popped up. My Dad was handy with mechanics and so he was the one who taught me the difference between a wrench and a pair of pliers. I sure do miss him....

 

My father graduated from high school in 1932. Right in the heart of the Depression. He could not find a job so he signed up for the Civilian Conservation Corp. One thing is for sure, those folks that survived the Depression learned the value of a dollar. Dad did a good job of passing that knowledge on. He later started his own business, a hatchery in East Texas. The hatchery did okay during the war years as people were raising chickens for meat and eggs.

He taught me a lot. He's been gone forty years now but not a day goes by that I don't miss him.

 

My dad worked at the San Diego Zoo and the Wild Animal
Park as a security person and also handled VIP guests and represented the Zoo as a spokesman at various group meetings. He was an accomplished woodworker and salvaged the animal crates for exotic materials from around the world. He did a couple of wood dashboards for me as well as several friends.

 

You hit the nail on the head. Grate quote.

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Mine was machinist, wind tunnel model maker, one of the best according to those he contracted to (North American Aviation, Jack Northrop, TRW, etc). An old hot rodder from the 30’s in Glendale Ca. Also a pilot, a rag top man, and a conservative. I’ve missed him every day since November 22, 1963.
My I-phone background.

 

I’m loving reading these stories...all very touching...my Dad was a hard working man..his real Father abandoned his family before he was born, but kept a relationship with his brothers, he remarried and spoiled his new family...difficult to not see in th small town he grew up in..always felt bad for my Dad and I’m sure that’s why he was never the most affectionate Dad, but I know he did the best he could and loved our family..he showed it by working hard to provide for us..my Dad was a “biker” drove up to Detroit in 66 and got a job at Ford hanging doors on Lincoln’s..quit after 2 days..got a job at a machine shop and learned some skills, than got a Job at GM, he worked his was up and became a metalurgist. He drove a VW Bug and his bike..him and my mom got into a wreck and bikes were done..he got. 70 Nova, and after that a Van.. my Dad also changed his lifestyle..no more long hair and beard, he became a born again Christian, and totally got away from the friends, the drugs, etc... he was really involved with church and went down to Detroit every Wednesday night to preach at the New Life Rescue Mission...he always said “if I can change, anyone can” one nice thing was, even though he didn’t ride anymore, he loved watching the bikes at Detroit Dragway..so I got to spend many Saturday’s out there...he always supported what I did...I was not an easy kid growing up, but he stood by me..took me a few years to figure life out..he always said “whatever you do..do your best” and when I took a job making $5.25 and hour I took that to heart and worked my way up, all while going to College..something I was never supposed to do...when I left that job I was making over 50K a year..I still tell my kids, friends kid’s....if you’re a ditch digger...dig the best ditch ya can...people notice hard work...I never finished College..but I work for a Fortune 100 Corporation...worked my way into Management, I’m looked upon as a leader, and a get things done employee...and I owe that to my Dad..never took a vacation..he would work and use that money to work on our home, or pay bills...he retired after 35years..at 55 years old..sadly my Mom passed away 6 months later and we we’re devastated...he sold everything and moved back to his small town in Ohio and remarried...he’s living his life, we live ours..but we know he cares about us and he knows it we his life example that made me what I am today...

 

What did my DAD do?
Everything!
Although he earned a living as a machinist later in life, he had been a milkman, carpenter, and farmer. Like a lot of others have said, Born in 1924 lived through the depression so never had much. He always said that they didn't know they were poor 'cuz everybody else was too. My Grandfather was a good man, but rather sickly. So Dad took extra responsibility as a teen. They built a house to my Grandpa's plans. Dad dug the basement by hand and hauled the dirt out in a wheel barrow. In '42 he went in the Army but never saw combat. Got on a ship headed to Europe but the war ended and they turned around and came back. During his stint, he sent money home to his folks.
Didn't go to college, but should have. So darn smart. Could read about something and then go build it. Built our house, made and installed lifetime guarantee mufflers, fixed all his cars and most of the others in the family. He didn't share my love of hot rods but made and modified so many parts for me that I lost count.
Always dreamed of having a Bridgeport at home so we could work together. I have one now and wish I could ask him how to do different things with it, and what are all those home made machinist tools used for?

But best of all he shared his faith with me and my sisters.
Will see you soon Dad,
RKS 1924 -1996

 

Wow...my dad...his career was at the FAA and then his own electrical business...he was a Korean war vet...stationed most of his Army career in West Germany...he loved his Mercedes Benz's and his VW's too...he taught to not be afraid to work...if you want something ...get to work and save for it...if you made $10 make sure to only spend $8 of it...

He took me to my first oval track race at the age of 4...I fell in love with old coupes and coaches from that era...

he was a good man...

 

Your name Sue? (Please don’t be offended) great share

 

My Dad was born in 1924 and was one of the original East Side kids in NYC that many movies were made about. Went to trade school and worked on the rotary aircraft engines and wing tips for some on the planes used in WWII. He went into the army at 19, trained as an anti tank gunner, went to the European theater, was handed a rifle and told to go to the front when they were chasing the Germans out of France just before the battle of the bulge. He wasn’t there more than a month when he was severely wounded and left for dead by the GIs and the Germans (he heard them coming through stabbing anyone still alive - he played dead!) He was found the next day, had almost bled out, part of his left arm was gone below the elbow, and the field hospital took off from just above the elbow. He was shipped to England and the rest of his arm was taken due to gang green. There, finally, word was sent to his family after being told he was mia and presumed dead, that he was in Savannah,GA and was sinking fast with a 1 in 1000 chance to live. He survived, recuperated, and was in rehab for nearly a year in Atlanta, GA. Got married during that time and wondered what the hell he would do as a 1 armed man. He figured the government sent him to fight so why couldn’t he work for another federal job, the US Post Office. Worked for them until 1968 when he retired on disability and ended up working for Hazeltine corporation as a procurement specialist for their color analyzer units (they converted b&w films to color) until the age of 62 when he retired. During the early 50s he played baseball at the Polo Grounds where the one-armed guys (the Broken Wings) played the Flat Tires (1-legged guys) and many celebrities were present raising awareness and money for the amputees. This same group later played Softball against all kinds of teams all over Long Island and upstate NY including other normal softball teams, other sponsored ad hoc teams, and also Eddie Feiner who was an extremely fast softball pitcher at the time. Feiner’s team consisted of himself as the pitcher, his son who played all the other positions except catcher, who was a former major leaguer named Boomer (he played for the Yanks, the Giants or the Dodgers I can’t remember at the moment). I went to most all of those games. Again, all ti raise awareness and money for the amp vets. He is now 96 and still drives and takes care of himself. He always has a smile on his face and is quick with a laugh. He goes to the va hospitals a lot, encouraging the new amputees that he had a full life and so can they. He is an amazing man and he is, my hero. ...

 

As far as fathers go my dad didn't do crap for me. He was worthless piece of crap that went in and out of prison, abused drugs/alcohol, and was extremely abusive. He passed away when I was 7 and sadly I am grateful for that as he made our lives a living hell. He was an example of everything I should never be.

However my grandfather was an amazing influence and father figure. He did more for me than I probably ever deserved and I was blessed to have him in my life. He was a over the road truck driver that valued hard work and determination. He taught me all the life lessons a man should hear from his father. He got me into old cars, racing, and the love for customs. He took me fishing, taught me about girls (which was funny because he had no clue but he tried), and what a man should and shouldn't do. Any time I needed advice he always lent a ear and never judged me for what I was going through. He'd whoop my ass if I miss behaved which I am thankful for and showed me unconditional love despite being in trouble as a father should. He taught me manners, how to say yes sir/ no sir, hold the door open for people, get up if an elder walked into the room and let them have your seat, how you treat a woman with respect, how to shake a mans hand and look him in the eye, and to just try and be a better person every day. He taught me that anything in life worth having is worth working for, he taught me that no matter how hard it might be you must always do the right thing, and that things that come easy are taken just as easy. I hope to pass all these lessons on to my children and I will spend my whole life trying to be as good of a father as he was. I miss him every day...

 

My dad was vice president of the old McCall corp.(magazines) and worked a lot.. He didn't drink or beat me and he was my best friend until he died at 69.. He didn't hunt or fish but he liked old cars and had a few American Bantams and a 1956 Thunderbird.. His first new car was one of the first Mustangs in Dayton, Oh.. All black convertible, 260, 3 spd that he got in May of 1964.. I was a junior in high school and by July of 1964 I lost my license for a year because of 3 tickets in less than 2 months.. He taught me to respect women, manners, how to dance and of course automobiles.. I loved him and miss him always...

 

None taken, true story.....

 

My dad was a dental technician his whole life - made dentures. He was smart and caring, but not ambitious. He just wanted to provide for his family, fish, tinker and be a loving father and husband. His father died a few months before he was born from yellow fever that grandad contracted as an Army sergeant during the Boxer Rebellion and time in the Philippines. My grandmother died when dad was only two from the 1918 influenza pandemic. He was raised by doting aunts, a couple of uncles and his grandmother, so not much paternal influence. He turned out to be a wonderful dad. In about 1955, when I was six, he bought a Henry J, but the engine didn't run right. He bought some tools and a Motor's Auto Repair Manual, took apart the engine in my uncle's junkyard and found a bent valve stem. He had no mechanical experience, yet his willingness to just jump in and figure it out so impressed my mom that she bragged about his triumph repeatedly. That impressed me enough to want to take apart things and be a mechanic, too.

 

My Dad was born 11-11-1896.Saw transportation go from horse and buggy to the space shuttle.WW1 vet.Did chauffer work for many years and went through 40 of the 50 states and the canal zone.Taught me the basics of mechanical work starting when I was 10.Hard working and no nonsense kind of guy.His longest profession was house painter(50 years).Died in 1994 at 98 years of age.Sure do miss hin a bunch.Loved music and taught himself to play the violin when overseas during WW1.Was a pretty good amatuer artist too.
Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
Leo

 

Well I've read every story and I hope what I'm about to say in taken in a nice context... Not meant to offend..

Some of you had a great father in your lives, others like myself had trash for a father and beat and abused.

So I hope that as we all read these stories we can learn from the great fathers what lead to lasting memories and try to work those positives into our own lives with those around us.

On those with the hells that childhood can be, let others see that the actions of a father can last a lifetime and let us strive to be better than those we remember as fathers/abusers.

 

My Dad just turned 81 last month & is doing pretty good! I am blessed to still have him & Mom (79). They built a place next door to me about 10 years ago & "babysit" their furry Grandkids while I am out transporting.
Dad was a mechanic a a GMC dealership in Cleveland, Ohio all the years I was growing up, so I got started into cars & trucks at an early age. We butted heads alot (as most fathers & sons do) but he was really a great Dad. We are in amateur radio together, drag raced together & even got to play a season + a few fill in games together when I convinced him to join one of the many mens' Softball teams I played on. Mom & my wife at the time were always in the stands cheering. Nowadays he still loves to see the cars I transport & comes into the shop when I am home to see what I am working on.

God bless
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ar-transport-hauling-open-or-enclosed.614419/

 

My Dad was the most intelligent, focused and amazing man I've ever known. Born poor in 1929, he joined the Army in '47 , mainly to go to college on the GI bill. Signed up to be a paratrooper...because it paid $10 a month more. Engineering degree from Canisius, Masters from Rutgers. He was a guidance system designer/specialist on the X15 (Bell Aircraft), Gemini & Apollo programs (North American Aviation) and the Navy's "Ohio Class" Submarines (IBM)...with over 70 patents to his name.


He married my Mom in 1951 and they had me in '52. My earliest memory was him teaching me how to open his bottle of Carling Black Label on his workbench mounted bottle opener. Growing up, a kid couldn't ask for a better Dad. He always encouraged me to explore things, take things apart, figure things out. He also never brought his work home, and us and to every one else who knew him, he was just a "regular Joe"...a thoughtful, kind and generous man

He lived life to the fullest...continued sky diving for many years after the service, became a pilot and even got his glider rating. He passed away unexpectedly in 1992 at only 63, form a heart attack...and I miss him every day.

I always though that I had disappointed him by becoming a Mech Engineer instead of an Electrical one. Many years later my Mom told me it was just the opposite...He was truly amazed at my grasp of all things mechanical...regardless, I feel I never became half the man my Dad was

 

My dad was an engineer at Hughes Aircraft and later Raytheon. The best man I've ever known. I can definitely blame him for getting me into this hobby. We were always going to car shows and races and working on our own cars when I was younger. Poor guy built himself a huge garage and usually ended up parking his cars outside because my brother's and I had our project cars torn apart inside. He complained but he didn't mind too much. He was a very patient man and lived for his family. I'm grateful for everything he instilled in me from a work ethic to manners and respect. Also, even though he was an extremely hard worker, he always made time for fun and had a great sense of humor. He died from cancer far too young at 53 years old but said he had no regrets about the life he had lived. I still miss him every day and hope I can one day be at least half the dad that he was.

 

My Dad was born in 1932 grew up during the depression and had very little of the things we take for granted today. Enlisted in the Navy at 17 , was a Korean war veteran and life long car guy . He had his own auto
repair business from 1959-1965, then went to work for International truck company for the next 33 years , was able to work his way up to service management for 10 + years . Always supported my car intrest , helped me with my car projects, and helped me with drag racing for 12 years . He taught me to work hard , and that family is most important.
He turned 88 yesterday and still loves all things automotive.

 

My dad is still living and reasonably healthy at age 89. He’ll be 90 if he makes it to October 2nd. He is the oldest of 9 children , born to poor share croppers in N.E. Arkansas. At age 6 or 7 his family moved to S.E. Missouri where Grandpa got a job in a Brown Shoe Co. factory. Dad worked his entire life, first in a grocery store, then at the shoe factory, then a short stint in the Air Force. Grandpa got sick and couldn’t work for awhile so Dad got a hardship discharge, came home and got a job to help support the family. In 1953 he got a job as an operator in a uranium enrichment plant in W. Kentucky and worked there until he retired at age 58. He was not really a “car guy” but did own (and wear out) a lot of cars and a few pickup trucks. He loved to hunt small game, fish and camp, and was active in that until a few years ago. He still walks about an hour each day and his mind is still sharp.
My dad is a Christian and to this day is faithful to his church, to prayer and to Bible study, and instilled those values in me. He is a loving, friendly man who loves his family and loves life. He was/is a good father — a good Dad, and I am thankful for him. I know someday he will no longer be just a phone call away...

 

Dad was a bean counter his working life. But was born in a small town in wis in 1930, his folks owned a cheese factory. He had to lean to repair things early on, and later on with 5 kids had to repair cars out of nessisity. When I was 15 years old and wanted a car dad had the time to teach me how to rebuild a motor and paint cars. Little did he know to passion he lit in me and the joy cars have givin me , thank you thank you, love you dad

 

Dad was a truck mechanic for a freight line. Proud teamster. He fathered six of us and kept us fed and clothed. Brought me into the garage as soon as I could walk. Seems we always had a Model A around to play with if it wasn't his daily driver.

Every time I go into the shop and open a tool box the memories come flooding back. I feel like he is right over my shoulder when I am wrenching on something in the shop.

I was lucky to get most of his tools when he passed. All Snap on and Mac along with the chests and boxes. Those tools outlived him and are going to outlive me some day as well.

 

My Dad was an Engineer on the Santa Fe RR. I was fortunate enough to ride with him in the cab of the San Diegan and the Super Chief. He started out as a Fireman for the New York Central. Strict but with a streak of compassion.